champerty

[ cham-per-tee ]
/ ˈtʃæm pər ti /

noun Law.

a sharing in the proceeds of litigation by one who agrees with either the plaintiff or defendant to help promote it or carry it on.

Origin of champerty

1300–50; Middle English champartie, equivalent to champart (< Middle French: share of the produce, literally, of the field, equivalent to champ field (see camp1) + part share, see part) + -ie -y3

OTHER WORDS FROM champerty

cham·per·tous, adjective

Words nearby champerty

champagne socialist, champagne-ardenne, champaign, champaigne, champers, champerty, champignon, champigny-sur-marne, champion, champion of england, championship

Example sentences from the Web for champerty

British Dictionary definitions for champerty

champerty
/ (ˈtʃæmpətɪ) /

noun plural -ties

law (formerly) an illegal bargain between a party to litigation and an outsider whereby the latter agrees to pay for the action and thereby share in any proceeds recovered See also maintenance

Derived forms of champerty

champertous, adjective

Word Origin for champerty

C14: from Anglo-French champartie, from Old French champart share of produce, from champ field + part share (a feudal lord's)